Dubai: It is that time of year when some Dubai neighbourhoods resemble Indian streets with buildings decked in Diwali lighting.
Dubai was brighter than ever this weekend as hundreds of thousands of Indian expatriates from various states celebrated the Hindu festival of lights in its full grandeur.
Though the main day of the Diwali festival falls on Sunday, many made use of the weekend for celebrations and visiting friends and relatives. And for those from the southern states like Tamil Nadu, the main day of their celebrations fell on Saturday, letting them take advantage of the holiday in most private companies.
The facades of apartment buildings glow with lights which is a tradition for this festival. Photo: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
Several Indian schools and many private firms are closed today for Diwali, while many working in other places are taking leave to enjoy the festivities.
The Dubai Diwali celebration is almost akin to that in India for most and the things that they miss are perhaps the non-stop noise of the firecrackers and parents and siblings living back home.
However, Indians here generally stick to their traditions and rejoice in the occasion. “Diwali festivities here are almost like those in India,” said Urvashi Palicha, who has been living in Dubai for 16 years. “You can feel the festive buzz for several days. Indians feel very comfortable as the community here is very welcoming and they respect everyone’s culture. We burst a lot of firecrackers in India. But we refrain from doing that here. I miss having my immediate family… my parents, in-laws, and siblings. But in terms of celebration, culture and festivities, it is very much the same over here,” she said.
Praying to Lakshmi, the deity of wealth at home and at the workplace is an important part of the festival, said Palicha, who runs a human resource consultancy firm. Buying new clothes, distributing sweets and gifts among friends and guests on Diwali are also a must. “We make some special sweets like laddus and rice kheer and I make it a point that my children go on their own and hand over sweets to all our friends in our building. All children then get together to have fun and celebrate.”
Indian expats throng a sweet shop in Al Karama. People offer sweets to guest and give them as gifts too. Photo: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
A Mumbaikar married to a Gujarati, Palicha said her husband’s family observes the day after Diwali as the New Year. “Saal Mubarak [New Year] greetings are exchanged on the day after Diwali.”
Traditionally, Diwali is an occasion for getting together with family and friends, said Uma Sareen, who has been living in Dubai for three decades.
“We have a get-together on the day before Diwali or on Diwali. There is a lot more social interaction back home with relatives. We try to do the same over here with friends,” said the former teacher and entrepreneur.
“It is a good time for spring cleaning your home and decorating the altar at home. It’s a ritual for me to get something new for my temple decoration every year for Diwali puja [prayer].”
Indian residents in Dubai shop for Diwali decorations at Choithrams. Photo: Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
Hailing from New Delhi and living in Arabian Ranches, Sareen also shares the joy of the festival by giving gifts and cash to the less privileged people around her.
“Many workers here might not be having families to make sweets and other Diwali delicacies for them or buy these for themselves…I give cash, a silver item and a box of sweets as a token of appreciation to people who work for us and those workers whom I see regularly,” said the 62-year-old whose children live in the US.
For south Indians like Ragunathan Narasimhan, the festival of lights is called Deepavali.
“Though our rituals are almost the same, our Deepavali always falls a day before Diwali celebrated by north Indians. We keep deepams (lights) like their diyas at evening and pray. We also make sweets and snacks and distribute these to friends and relatives. Like their rangoli (decorations on the ground with coloured powder), we make kolam inside and outside our house,” he explained.
Hailing from Chennai, Narasimhan who runs a business consultancy firm, has been living in Al Ghusais for 18 years. “There are a lot of our community members living in our area. We all get together at a big parking area near our buildings, exchange sweets and celebrate. After that, it is time for us to visit our friend’s place for dinner. We are around 20 people from seven to eight families of mostly former colleagues, including Christians. Our friend Pandian hosts the Diwali dinner every year,” he said.
Open doors
This expat couple serves Diwali delicacies to hundreds
Dr Nishi Singh and Dr Pankaj Shrivastav at their home on Al Wasl Road preparing for the festival. Photo: A.K. Kallouche/Gulf News
Villa No. BS22 behind Life Pharmacy in Jumeirah 1 is the perfect place to enjoy Diwali celebrations in its true spirit for hundreds of community members.
Dr Pankaj Shrivastav and his wife, Dr Nishi Singh, have kept their doors open for friends, neighbours, colleagues and their dear ones to savour authentic, homemade Diwali delicacies and cherish the festive spirit for the past 25 years.
Dubai has taken Diwali celebrations to a new height with a lot of dressing up, jewellery purchase and glitter. But the doctor couple tries to stick to the traditional system.
“We had started in a small way with 20 to 30 people, mostly our colleagues from the then department of health and medical services…Over the past 25 years, the numbers grew and now we receive some 300 to 400 guests of different nationalities on Diwali even if it is on a weekday,” said Dr Singh, an infectious disease specialist who chairs the health sciences programmes of Dubai Men’s and Women’s Colleges.
Preparations to receive that many visitors begin several weeks earlier. Ensuring that the house is spick and span and the temple is decorated extensively for the occasion are the top priority.
The doorsteps and living rooms are decorated with rangolis made using poster paint. Rangolis with flour are kept in trays due to the high number of people visiting the house.
Fresh marigold and jasmine strings are bought on Diwali morning for further decorations.
Preparations for cooking some of the items begin one week in advance during which only one maid helps Dr Singh. “On Diwali day, I will have a couple of more hands for help as we make some items on the spot and serve from my kitchen after making the offering to the deity. Our regular items include Indian snacks as well as exotic fruit chaat with tamarind chutney and the like.”
Dubai resident, Dr. Nishi Singh, celebrates Diwali with her traditional homemade dishes and new decorations in her home:
Dr. Nishi Singh, a Dubai resident, shows us her home on the occasion of Diwali (Part I):
Dr. Nishi Singh, a Dubai resident, shows us her home on the occasion of Diwali (Part II):
